Harrington takes narrow lead into last day

Padraig Harrington holds a one shot lead going into Sunday’s final round of the Belgacom Open but with Lee Westwood breathing down his neck, a bogey on the 18th in his third round of 68 could prove very costly.

Trailing overnight leader Tom Gillis by one, the Irishman started solidly with six pars before making birdie at four holes on the Royal Zoute for the first time this week to reach 13-under-par.

The 1999 Ryder Cup player, with one tournament victory to his name this season, recorded back-to-back birdies at the 7th and 8th and two more followed at the 15th and 16th before a bogey five at the last spoiled an otherwise steady and professional round.

"I hit a tee shot that I could have taken seven but I took a bogey, so I'm fine," said Harrington.

Westwood, destined to reclaim top spot in the European Order of Merit, made his intentions known from the very off with a birdie at the first. He had to wait a further eight holes for his next one after a bogey at the 7th.

Further birdies at the 12th, 15th and 17th helped the world number six compile a four-under-par 67, his third consecutive sub-70 round, to give him a 12-under total of 201.

"There is a logjam at the top of the board and anyone can win it tomorrow," said Westwood. "But after winning this event two years ago, it would be nice to win it again."

After the highs of Friday’s brilliant round of 64, American Gillis came crashing down to earth with a bogey at the first hole before another followed at the 5th.

With his challenge threatening to come off the rails, he bravely birdied the 8th and 9th before dropping another at the 10th. He levelled up his round with his third birdie of the week at the par-five 12th.

The biggest moves made in the third round came from England’s Peter Baker and Denmark’s Soren Hansen who both shot joint best of the day rounds of 63.

Wolverhampton-born Baker, with two previous rounds of 70, made the most of the pleasant opening conditions. Five straight pars were followed by five straight birdies. A further three followed at the 12th, 15th and 18th.

Hansen occupies joint second spot after an extraordinary round that contained two eagles in the space of four holes.

After making four birdies in his first 10 holes, he eagled the reachable par-five 12th and responded to a bogey at the 13th with another eagle three at the 15th. He continued to thrive on the par-fives with a birdie at the long 17th.

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